How to apply your strategic skills to finding a job
Posted on June 11, 2010
Filed Under Employment, Finding a Job | 2 Comments
You might see the employment landscape as a medieval battlefield…minus the threat of mortal danger. Except, instead of being an orderly battle between mutual enemies, it is an ostensible war of all against all: constantly trying to gain a competitive advantage against their opponents, competing job seekers duke it out (albeit, indirectly), as they vie for the same position. Of course, in place of bearing arms and wearing thick chainmail these foes bear briefcases and wear pressed suits, but like their medieval brethren are constantly looking for the strategic upper hand—something that will ensure their victory over the multitude of other, perhaps equally qualified, individuals. And even though a job seeker’s qualifications will certainly have considerable bearing on whether that job seeker gets that job for which he or she is vying, finding a job can be as much about strategy as your work history (though, the latter is quite important).
Admittedly, finding a job can be quite daunting; although, if a job seeker goes about finding a job strategically—doing research, finding out which business sectors are currently growing, applying for multiple permanent positions, applying to multiple staffing firms, etc.—they might experience greater success than if they simply opened the job wanted ads in their local paper.
ABC’s Good Morning America published an article this past January, titled Finding a Job: Target Areas That Are Hiring, which looks at the difficult task of finding a job in the current job market. Their recommendations? Although the article does not explicitly suggest that job seekers develop a strategy when searching for work, their recommendations do seem to indicate that is precisely what job seekers do. For example, the article suggests that unemployed workers apply not just to one, but multiple staffing firms who can assist in locating temporary work—which can, of course, lead to a full-time position. Nevertheless, this article is valuable not because of the specific tips or suggestions it has for job seekers; rather, what makes it valuable is the particular philosophy it promotes with respect to finding, or searching for employment.
What should be drawn from this article is that job seekers should use all of their faculties when searching for a job. Do research. Read business columns and financial news. Find out which areas of the economy are currently experiencing growth, and ride that wave. Don’t just look for a job, be strategic!
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[...] on October 14, 2010 Filed Under Employment, Team, Teamwork | Leave a Comment I once described the job search process as a competition between job seekers. An unceasing and indirect war of all [...]
[...] | Leave a Comment In one of my earliest blog posts, I characterized the job search as a ruthless war of all against all. Suit-clad, briefcase wielding, warriors battling it out, constantly attempting to eke out the [...]